All posts by Spoughts

Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are thought to be putting together a shocking move for Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, according to ESPN.

Vardy has been comfortably the best forward in the Premier League since the start of the season, and already has 10 goals to his name.

Even more impressively, Vardy has scored in seven consecutive Premier League games, which puts him in a category alongside a very select group of players.

Would it work?

At first, it seems ridiculous that either club would come calling for a player who was only playing for Fleetwood Town in 2012.

However, Vardy has been in incredible form since the start of the season.

He also seems to fit into both Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino’s preferred systems.

Klopp would be delighted to have a striker with such incredible pressing and running ability to spearhead his forward line.

Pochettino could use him to alternate with Harry Kane, given the lack of options currently available to him.

However, it remains to be seen if Vardy is the real deal or whether this is just a sudden run of form.

Liverpool have been burned before, signing Rickie Lambert last season before quickly realising he was not good enough for a club the size of the Anfield side.

It’s hard to see Vardy carrying this on much longer, and even if he does, he currently has a perfect foil behind him in Riyad Mahrez.

Both clubs might do better looking at the playmaking midfielder, who was an underrated part of the run that kept Leicester in the Premier League last season.

Furthermore, considering the massive premium they will both pay for Vardy at this point, it might be worth considering finding the next Vardy rather than taking a punt on a 28-year-old.

Klopp said as much when introduced as Liverpool manager – that he prefers to find players like Robert Lewandowski, who he signed for less than £1 million while at Borussia Dortmund, than signing players for big money.

Rumour rater

Vardy is under contract at Leicester for another three years.

However, there is no way he’ll be earning as much at the King Power Stadium as he would at either Anfield or White Hart Lane.

To an extent, this could just be an attempt by Vardy or his representatives to increase his wages ahead of a January window in which the Foxes will be incredibly worried about losing him.

Vardy is in a more powerful position for negotiation than at any other point in his career, and could secure a contract to set him up for the rest of his life.

On the other hand, it is really not surprising to hear that top sides are chasing Vardy, who has been exceptional over the calendar year.

Neither club would be particularly foolish to sign him, so this might be one that brews as we approach January.

Manchester United have been given a boost in their chase for Lazio’s Felipe Anderson, with the reported news that the player and club have a gentleman’s agreement over his sale.

Anderson was upset in the summer after Lazio president Claudio Lotito snubbed a £22 million move from Man Utd, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

However, there is reportedly a verbal agreement in place between the player and his club should a big club come calling. He has a £57m release clause in his contract.

Bayern Munich and Paris St-Germain are also thought to be interested, according to the Daily Star.

Would it work?

Anderson has shown his talent over the last week, scoring a staggering four goals to make him one of Europe’s more prolific midfielders.

That has put him back in the shop window.

However, only a month ago, the press was openly discussing Anderson’s terrible start to the new season, and wondering whether, to use the Daily Star’s headline, Man Utd had ‘dodged a bullet’.

That followed a season in which he scored ten league goals for Lazio.

Anderson could be the sort of player to play both hot and cold, which would not bode well for a move to the Premier League.

Man Utd also seem to have found a functioning attacking unit in Anthony Martial, Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney, and may worry about upsetting the balance.

That said, if Louis van Gaal has decided that he does not want to pick Memphis Depay any more, signing a player like Anderson who could play on the wing would release Martial to operate up front where he is clearly better.

Rooney’s poor form means that that could be to the benefit of the Old Trafford side and their title credentials this season.

Rumour rater

Man Utd are thought to have had personal terms agreed with Anderson during the summer.

If Lazio denied him a move but are accepting of one in the near future, the player would be able to force through a switch.

It’s also not beyond the realms of conception that Man Utd would want a midfielder of Anderson’s playing style, as he would undoubtedly add more to the squad.

Would it work?

Inter Milan are not exactly on top form in Serie A, although they are currently fourth in the table.

Given the relative standards of the Italian league and the Premier League, it would be weird for Montoya to struggle to get into Inter’s side and yet be a valuable option for either Liverpool or Arsenal.

Liverpool have Nathaniel Clyne to call upon, comfortably one of the better right-backs in the Premier League.

Arsenal have a huge selection of options at right-back, including first choice Hector Bellerin, former Newcastle United star Mathieu Debuchy and youngster Calum Chambers.

Neither side are clearly in need of a defender to play on the right side, and neither would benefit from an Inter cast-off.